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 Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 11:06 am
 This morning Orithia had rose early, careful to not wake up her mother or her siblings, as well as avoid any of the patrols. Today she had an extra amount of energy, which was rare for her, so she knew exactly what she was going to do with it - run. Of course she didn't get very far before she was stopped, but not by a patrol or her mother, no it was her bear friend Alcinoe who had stopped the teen in her tracks. Alcinoe, while generally great to have around was sometimes a bit too overprotective in Orithia's opinion. Princess or not sometimes she just wanted the freedom to do what she wanted, when she wanted. And this was one of those days.
However, it didn't take Orithia long to convince Alcinoe to let her go, only catch was Alcinoe insisted on following her. Well better to be followed than stopped completely and forced back to the den. So the pair snuck out of the pack land and Orithia was free to run.
And run she did. Orithia ran and ran, and while her muscles were starting to ache and her breathing was heavy she continued to run. She refused to let her weak body give in just yet and pushed on further. Alcinoa kept up right behind the teen, though would occasionally insist that she slow down or take a rest. But Orithia would not rest, not yet. And while she was enjoying the feel of the wind in her fur and the freedom it brought she had not realized that she had crossed into YMCA territory - probably a good thing they were allies with her own pack or there might be trouble. Alcinoe was not impressed, Orithia knew better than to be sneaking off but curse that pup, no not pup anymore, and her begging to go. The bear had no choice but to let her do as she pleased, but she had insisted on being her guard so to speak. So that way Orithia would get her run and Alcinoe could breath easy knowing that if anything happened she would be there to protect the pup.
While Orithia might not have noticed that they crossed into another packs territory Alcinoa did. But she knew the wolf would not listen to her even if she said anything so she followed silently but began to run a bit faster closing the gap between her and the pup for safety sakes. Of course if anyone saw them from a distance they would swear that the poor teen was being chased down by the bear for a nice morning snack.
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Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 11:45 am
 As he was old enough now to take on some more responsibility in the pack Apollo had taken to doing patrols now and again. His choice of jobs was a two pronged decision. One it let him get away from things for a while - which was nice as it allowed him to spend some time just..thinking without being bothered by his brothers or Merrill girls or his adoptive sister, all of whom he loved...but could be annoying at times and two it seemed to make his mother happier when her sons looked like they were busy and when mom was happy she and father didn't argue nearly as often. Like all of his siblings Apollo had learned early on that keeping his mother somewhat happy was the key to a peaceful den.
It was while on one of these patrols that the sound of brush being harshly shoved aside reached his ears and with the memory of Ari's bear attack only a few months ago Apollo was quick to veer off towards the sound and check it out. Of course he wasn't actually expecting a bear and when lo and behold there actually was one..and chasing a young wolf at that Apollo found himself standing in shocked silence for a few moments before recalling that he had a job to do. Snarling he dashed through the woods and leapt out of the brush between the young wolf and the bear, snapping viciously at the bears face before dancing backwards and away from the beasts heavy paws in an attempt to draw its attention away from the other wolf "Leave her alone!"
No bear was going to attack a wolf on his watch!
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Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 11:59 am
This was great! It was a rare treat to just let ones paws take them where they wished, no Sisters watching her every move, her mother wasn't worrying about her healthy and well-being. Orithia could get used to a feeling like this, but she knew it wasn't meant to be. She was co-alpha of her pack now and while she hadn't taken on all responsibilities yet they were beginning to pile up. That's why she had chose to take this morning to run to her hearts content before such a thing would be impossible. And it was nice to be alone, well alone if she didn't count Alcinoe behind her, and not have to worry about anything.
And the second that thought came to her another wolf made a sudden appearance, and was yelling something about 'leave her alone'. Orithia skidded to a stop to see Apollo on the attack towards Alcinoe. Oh my god! "No, stop Apollo!" She yelled at Apollo though it was hard to tell whether her voice could be heard over Apollo and Alcinoes growling. "Alcinoe!"
So far so good. The princess was safe and as soon as they got a bit of rest she would make sure they marched straight home. A sudden scent reached her nose and Alcinoe growled deeply just as the male wolf came busting out of the bushes. Letting out a roar, that was half anger and half surprise, Alcinoe took a few steps back away from the snapping jaws. What was wrong with this wolf? Barely audible she caught Orithia's call. "Enough!" Alcinoe roared and took a few extra steps back away from the blasted male, but made no aggressive move towards him.
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Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 12:07 pm
Apollo's fur was bristling as he faced down what he thought to be an attacking wolf, growls rumbling deep in his chest as the hulking brute backed away from him - yeah thats right Apollo thought to himself...not so much fun tormenting wolves when they don't run away huh! In fact was feeling pretty damn good about himself before the familiar voice sounded before him and the bear roared out her command to stop.
Apollo hesitated, ear flicking slightly and while he kept his eye on the bear he did stop growling at her while he called back to the other wolf "Orithia? what are you doing here? Did this bear chase you here?" they'd had problems with bears in the past so it wasn't a completely stupid question for him to ask.
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Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 12:15 pm
For a few moments Orithia wasn't sure if their of them had heard her. But it seems Alcinoe had heard and roared for them to all stop. Orithia was breathing heavily, not just because the run had been extremely taxing on her body but because the last few moments had felt like an eternity. When things had settled down between the two Orithia stepped around Apollo moving between him and Alcinoe. She took a moment to address the bear first. "It's alright Alcinoe, he's a friend." Well he wasn't exactly a friend, more like an ally than anything else due to their packs statuses, but it was as good of description as any.
Turning she faced Apollo. "I felt like going for a run. And she didn't chase me here, Alcinoe is a friend, she helps protect me." Lowering herself down on her haunches and took a deep breath, heart still pounding in her chest, it wasn't until she stopped running that she realized how badly her body needed a rest.
Alcinoe regarded the male with cautious eyes. And while she went to respond to his comment about her chasing Orithia the young wolf stepped between them silencing the bear instantly. Ears flicked at Orithia's words. "Some friend." She mumbled under her breath but was content to leave him in peace for now, but she would be watching, oh yes, and if he got too close to Orithia then she would step in. Snorting Alcinoe sat down and waited to see how this played out.
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Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 12:24 pm
Who in the world would keep a bear as a friend? Let alone a guardian! Everyone knew bears couldn't be trusted! Merrill said so all the time and if Merrill said it then it had to be true. It was probably another one of those nutty traditions his father said the warrior pack had - keeping dangerous pets seemed like something they would do for kicks and he gave the bear a dubious look.
"If you say so..." He finally relented a little bit before turning his attention to Orithia who seemed to be breathing awful heavily "Looks like you went for some run" He remarked "Theres a stream not to far off" He suggested thinking she might like a drink 'The bear can come too if she wants...." Though moons help him if Merrill happened to come across their scents..he'd never hear the end of it and would likely have to endure lectures on the subject of evil bears for daaays...still he was willing to take the chance and as long as the bear was with them well..she wouldn't run off and terrorize the rest of the pack.
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Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 12:32 pm
Smiling slight Orithia gave her head a nod. "Yes, it was a good run." But now she was feeling the effects of ignoring her body telling her to slow down and rest. She would likely feel it tonight when her muscles would start to ache while trying to sleep. Oh well, you only live once. At the mention of the stream Orithia forced herself to stand up. "A drink would be nice." Yes she could certainly use a good long drink, and after motioning for Alcinoe to follow Orithia began to walk with Apollo. "I just hope you don't plan to teach me how to fish again." She said with a bit of a laugh remembering the last time, in fact the first time, they had met.
Alcinoe huffed a bit at the male but otherwise stayed quiet. As long as he behaved she wouldn't have much a problem with him. As the two wolves started to move towards the stream Alcinoe took up the rear, though she was alert to everything her eyes were glued to the male, if he made one wrong move...he would be done.
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Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 1:06 pm
Apollo decided that while he didn't trust the wolf the smartest thing to do for the time being would be to ignore her, Orithia obviously wasn't to bothered by her presence and she hadn't tried to take a swipe at him yet - but he'd keep an eye out just in case...and so when as they walked towards the stream he kept craning his neck back every few steps to make sure the bear wasn't up to anything fishy when he wasn't looking.
"Oh..uh no...though the pack did go on an elk hunt not long ago, everyone got caught in that giant storm we had a while back..one of my brothers got into trouble in the storm but the hunt itself was fun" He told her conversationally as they padded along. "How about you? Anything interesting happen since I saw you last?"
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Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 1:19 pm
"An elk hunt huh? Sounds exciting. And I remember that storm, I don't think I will forget that for a while." She remembered huddling in her den with her mother and siblings wondering just how bad things would be when they emerged. And it had been pretty bad, lots of branches and small trees litters the pack lands and made quite a mess for the slaves to clean up. "Hopefully that was the worse and last of them for a while.Did your brother get lost in the storm?" She asked, though honestly what else could happen during a storm like that other than getting lost because of how poor the visibility was at the time.
With the stream up ahead Orithia hurried forward, as much as her legs protested she did really need a drink. The water was cool and refreshing as she lapped it up, choosing to get her fill before answering his question. Licking the water from her lips Orithia looked over at Apollo. "Well I'm to be co-alpha of my pack now, I know I was born into the rank but it needs the official agreement of the pack. So in a few days time there will be a ceremony. Other than that not much else has happened." She gave her shoulders a shrug. Really other than the same old training schedule every day there wasn't much that she or the other Sisters did right now.
At the stream Alcinoe took a deep drink and then sat down not far away from the two wolves. So far she could see that the male meant no harm to Orithia, but that didn't mean she could let her guard down. Using her claws the bear dug into the cold ground and began to much on some roots while the wolves talked.
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Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 1:28 pm
Moons...the blasted bear was tearing up the shore, even if Merrill missed the cent somehow Apollo was sure she'd spot the big ugly scars the bears claws were leaving behind, but what could he do really? It wasn't polite to tell her to stop and it wasn't exactly against the rules so he didn't feel the need tell her to quit either. Oh well..maybe it would now and cover them up until spring when the rains would wash them away.
Turning hi gaze back to Orithia he nodded slightly "And trapped beneath a tree too, Galahad - I think my grandmother's taken a shine to him to be honest - managed to save him but it was a bit frightening for a while there" And it had been for a little while no one had been quite sure how to save his sibling and in the cold winter storm him freezing to death while they tried to figure it out had been a real possibility.
He waited while she drank deeply,sitting on his haunches and eying her critically she was still a good deal smaller then others her age but at least she didn't appear sickly anymore as simply petite. "Really? Well thats great Orithia, though I expect that means you'll have allot more to do soon"
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Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 1:37 pm
Orithia's ears perked forward. His brother had been trapped under a tree in that storm, Apollo seemed so calm about it, granted it was a while ago but still she couldn't imagine being so calm if something like that had have happened to one of her siblings. "Oh wow, it's a good thing this Galahad you speak of was there to help. Is your brother alright?" Being trapped until a tree was certainly a traumatic experience in itself but in such a storm she couldn't even imagine - had he been injured?
She gave her head a nod. "Yes, it will come with a lot more responsibility. Which is why I took to running today, I wanted to do something that I knew would be impossible once all those duties came to be." She paused for a second and then to make sure he wasn't thinking she might be reconsidering her life's role she added. "I don't mind the extra duties though, it's an honor to hold such a high role in the pack. I just hope that I do a good job." Obviously she was still a bit nervous about the prospect even if she was looking forward to it.
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Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 1:46 pm
"He's alright now" Apollo confirmed though hi father and mother had conferred about possible effects the trauma might have had Apollo hadn't seen anything to indicate his brother was permanently impaired. Not that he was a master on the subject or anything.
"Galahad is a good sort though - i don't think I'll mind if Grandmother chooses him as her second Alpha...her mates been gone quite a while now and I can see that it makes her sad to be alone" He told Orithia with a slight sigh. He had only the vaguest memories of his true grandfather...he had been a large grey beast though given the fact that Apollo had only seen him when he was a puppy he supposed he might not have been as large as he recalled him to be.
"I'm sure you'll do fine - I mean its not like you'll be entirely on your own right? Your mother will still be about to guide you and I doubt she would have decided to have this ceremony if she didn't think you were ready for it" His mother he knew held Orithia's mom in rather high esteem and while Apollo agreed with his father that some of the Northern packs ideas were a bit off he didn't think their queen was a stupid wolf, surely she wouldn't choose an heir unwisely.
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Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 2:06 pm
"Well that's good to hear." Just because males were below her in her pack didn't mean that Orithia should be insensitive about such an event happening. That was something she had obviously gotten from her mother, it was part of being a fair and just ruler to all subjects, even the lower ranking ones. "You're pack has been without a second alpha for quite some time, at least that's what mother has said. I'm sure Chivosi will pick whoever she deems worthy." And if that worthy wolf happened to be a male then so be it, in the short time she had spend with the alpha of YMCA she had gained a certain respect for her. Besides if mother respected Chivosi then so should she.
At Apollo's next words Orithia smiled a bit. "You're right, just nervous is all. It is a pretty important and big change in my life. And mother will be there to help me along with things." She looked over at Alcinoe for a moment but the bear was busy eating roots and grasses that she left her alone and returned her gaze to Apollo. "Though one day I will be leading the pack on my own." That day was several years away, whenever mother stepped down of course.
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Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 2:19 pm
"And by then everything will be almost second nature I'm sure" Apollo told her - he himself wasn't sure if or when his grandmother would ever step down as packleader - probably when she was just to old to lead it anymore "I don't know who my grandmother would choose to lead the pack if anything happened to her" He told the other wolf with a shrug "Although hopefully we won't have to worry about it for a long time yet.." He added hastily before she thought he was aspiring to the position or something.
"Do the leaders of your pack always step down after a certain point..or is it just whenever they think the time is right?" He questioned after a few moments of thought on the subject.
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Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 2:34 pm
"Yes, let's hope so." If things didn't come second nature by that point then that would be a clear indication to not only herself but the pack as well that she was not cut out for a leadership role. Wouldn't that be embarrassing, and a possibly deadly mistake too. As for the comment about what would happen if something happened to Chivosi she merely nodded, surely there would be some wolf in this pack that could at least take control until a more permanent solution could be found.
"It depends," she began to say. "Sometimes they step down after a while, others they are forced out of their position and others are killed for it." Such was the way of a warrior pack, especially when things were going well. "We are at peace now so likely mother will just step down when she feels the time is right." Which hopefully wouldn't be for some time at least. But one could never be certain if or when a rebellion would pop up to threaten the way of things. After resting this long, even if it had only been a few minutes, Orithia was started to feel refreshed after such a long run. "And what are your plans?" She asked, wondering just what Apollo inspired to be within his pack.
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